by Jack Ambraw
“How could I forget,” Decker said.
“You have an excellent memory,” the inspector smiled.
“You catch the guy who shot at me yet?” asked Decker.
Navarro shook his head. “No, but we know who did it. We’re waiting for the right time to make our move.”
“I hope you do it soon,” said Decker, grabbing Hack by the arm to continue walking.
Navarro edged his vehicle forward to keep pace with the sailors. “Why the rush, gentlemen? Sit with me for a while. We need to have a serious conversation. Man to man.”
Decker stared straight ahead. “No thanks. We’re in a hurry. Some friends are waiting for us.”
“I’m sure the girls can wait,” said the inspector. “Get in and let’s have a chat. Both of you.”
Decker eyed a group of Filipinos milling around the corner of Gordon Avenue half a block away. For a moment he thought about a dash to a trike for a quick getaway through the crowded streets. But when he looked towards the trike stand, he stopped and pulled on Hack’s shirt. Three of Navarro’s men were blocking the sidewalk. Submitting to the inevitable, the sailors climbed in the vehicle. Decker sat up front, Hack in the back seat.
“I’m glad you decided to join me,” Inspector Navarro said. “Trust me, I don’t mean to hassle you. I am an honorable cop trying to keep the peace in this fine community.”
For a fee, Decker wanted to say, but he knew it would get him into more trouble than it was worth.
“I understand the two of you paid a visit to our most illustrious citizen of Olongapo, Mr. Fortuno.”
“How do you know…?” asked Hack.
“Not that my friend is saying we actually did visit him,” Decker interrupted.
“Relax, Mr. Decker. There is no crime against visiting someone. We Filipinos are friendly people as you no doubt have learned in your time here. I am just curious what you talked about?”
“I thought he knew a friend of mine,” Decker said, unable to come up with a plausible reason why he would be visiting Mr. Fortuno.
“I see,” said the Inspector. “I trust it was a nice visit?”
“It was cordial,” Decker said. “Turned out he didn’t know my friend after all. Case of mistaken identity.”
“Well then, there’s no need for you to see him again.” Navarro turned in his seat so he could also see Hack. “Let me give you guys a warning. Be careful. Watch your step, as you Americans say. People are watching you. This is bigger than you can handle. Don’t get involved.”
Decker and Hack sat in silence until Navarro waved his hand. “You can go.”
The sailors quickly climbed out of the vehicle and stood on the sidewalk as the inspector put the car in gear, squealed the tires, and drove away.
“That was interesting,” Decker said as they headed for the trike stand.
“I hope I don’t run into him again,” Hack added.
“You and me both,” Decker said, hailing a trike to take him to Vega’s. “Wish me luck. I’ve been dreading this for several days now.”
“Maybe it’s not what you think,” Hack said. “She’s probably been busy with work and hasn’t had time to see you.”
Decker forced a smile and climbed in the sidecar, appreciating Hack’s attempt at comfort. Ten minutes later, the trike stopped in front of a four-story brick building. Decker paid the driver and ambled up the stairs to her third floor apartment.
Vega greeted him at the door in cutoff jeans and a yellow t-shirt tied in a knot at her waist. She kissed him on the cheek and led him inside where they stood in the middle of her sparsely furnished living room. “Hey, thanks for coming over. Sorry I’ve been hard to find lately. Work and stuff’s been crazy. Want something to drink? Have you eaten?”
Decker shook his head “no” and hugged her. “You said you wanted to talk. As you know, I’m not one for small talk when there’s business on the table.”
Vega squirmed out of the embrace and took Decker by the hand. “Okay then. I’ve met someone.”
Decker folded his arms. “Well, I meet people all the time. In fact, I met my old friend Inspector Navarro this evening.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Exactly what I said. Your boss stopped Hack and me outside the gate. We sat in his car and talked over old times.”
Vega walked to the refrigerator and opened the door. “Did he have news about the shooting?”
Decker shook his head. “No, he talked to us about Mr. Fortuno.”
Vega closed the refrigerator door and frowned. “Fortuno? Why would he talk about that guy with you?”
Decker smiled. “Maybe because Hack and I paid a visit to the Fortuno compound over the weekend.”
“Really?” She put her hands on her hips. “Now why would you do that? And, more important, how did you do it?
“It was easy. A certain trike driver that we both know used to work for Fortuno many years ago.”
“You’re kidding. Rusty?”
Decker held up his right hand. “I am not one to name names, but suffice it to say this certain trike driver that we both know set up a meeting with the aforementioned Mr. Fortuno. If you recall, I’m trying to figure out if Kippen’s dive—and me getting shot at—is related to the local black market.”
Vega walked over to Decker and took hold of both of his hands. “You need to stop this investigation of yours. It’s too dangerous.”
“I found that out the other night and Rusty has the leg wound to prove it.”
“I was so scared when I got there.” She looked up at him. “So did Mr. Fortuno actually talk with you?”
“Of course he did.”
“Did he give you any help?”
Decker shook his head. “Nope, he was cagey. But he sent us a message after we left his house. We stopped to eat at this little cafe and someone gave the waitress a note to deliver to us.”
“What did it say?”
“It mentioned this guy named Angelito Agana with a warning that he’s dangerous.”
“It was from Mr. Fortuno?”
“I think so. The handwriting was hard to read. We only met the old man and one of his daughters so I assume it was from the old man.”
“Which girl did you meet? Olivia or Abbey?”
Decker stood open mouthed. “You know them?”
“I went to high school with Olivia for two years when I came back to the Philippines to live with my father. Then she went to the States to finish her last two years. Somewhere in California I think. She was tall and skinny back then. And very pretty.”
“Still is,” Decker said. “Tall and skinny anyway,” he added. “But I didn’t get a good look at her.”
Vega dropped his hands and began pacing the room. “It’d be fun to see her again. I still can’t believe you went to their house. Don’t go near Agana, though. Going to Fortuno’s was bad enough, but Agana’s a different ball game.”
“That’s what Rusty said.”
“And you should listen to him.”
Decker sat in a chair at Vega’s kitchen table. “But I digress. You said you met someone.”
Vega sat in his lap and crossed her arms. “I did. It’s hard for me to tell you this, but I met a guy. We’ve seen each other a couple times. I know we’re just friends now, but I think we should put a hold on your visits. I want to see where this takes me.”
Decker put his arm around her waist. “I thought you told me you weren’t looking for a relationship?”
“I wasn’t really,” Vega said, lowering her head. “But I’ve been thinking lately I might give it a try.”
“You can try with me.”
She slid her arms around his neck. “You’re not the boyfriend type. Don’t get me wrong, I like you a lot. You know that. But you’re not ready to commit to a serious relationship.
”
“Maybe I am ready?”
Vega smiled and kissed his forehead. “No you’re not. We both know that.”
“Well, who is the lucky young man?”
“He’s an attorney in town. He works for the city government.”
“Ah, I’ve been torpedoed by a lawyer. Figures.”
“It’s not like that, Elliott. I’ve known him for a couple of years. It just sort of happened.”
Decker lifted Vega off his lap and stood holding her. “I should be going.”
“So soon? Let me make you something to eat?”
Decker shook his head. “Thanks, but I need to go. A long walk back to Magsaysay sounds nice right now.”
Vega hugged him tightly. “Sorry about this. I hope we’re still friends?”
He kissed her on the top of her head. “Of course.”
She smiled and walked with him to her front door. “Hey, listen,” she said, taking hold of his hands. “Please don’t do anymore investigating. I’m sorry I asked you to do it in the first place. I just wanted to get a little information to help me get some respect at work. It was selfish of me.”
“I’m glad you told me,” Decker said. “But not to worry. I’m being careful. I wasn’t sure in the beginning, but I’m now convinced I’m on to something big.”
Vega nodded in agreement. “And it’s time for you to stay out of it. Let the police handle things. I don’t even know if a sailor on the Harvey is involved in the black market. It might take us a while, but we’ll put a stop to whatever is going on.” Vega stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. “Promise me you’re going to stop your investigation?”
Decker walked out the door and turned before descending the stairs. “Bye, Vega. I’ll be seeing you. I hope this guy is what you’re looking for.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
1810, Wednesday, February 12
Hack knocked and heard a woman’s voice from within softly call out, “Come in.” He pushed open the door and stopped in his tracks at the sight before him. Lee was lying face down on a blanket wearing a red t-shirt and reading a novel. A bath towel was thrown over the arm of the nearby sofa. Angie sat astride Lee’s left thigh, massaging her lower back, neither of the women looking up to acknowledge Hack’s presence.
Hack smiled at the sight before him. “Looks like I got here at the right time. You always leave your door unlocked like this?”
Lee, eyes still on the book, motioned with her left hand for Hack to sit on the couch. “It was locked. I heard you talking to the trike driver so Angie got up and opened it.” She finished reading the page, closed the book, and spoke to the maid. “Oras upang ayusin ang hapunan.” Angie got up quietly, smiled at Hack, and hurried to the kitchen.
“I’ve always been impressed with your Tagalog,” Hack said.
Lee turned on her side. “I guess I picked it up easily, but I’m still learning. I think I just asked her to fix dinner. Not sure if I got it exactly correct, but she understood what I wanted.”
Hack looked at Angie in the kitchen and then at Lee. “Must be nice having her here. I didn’t know massages were part of her duties?”
“They’re not. She worked as a masseuse before I hired her so I let her treat me if she asks. She’s taught me how to give them, too. Maybe sometime I’ll show you.”
Hack smiled at the thought. “Maybe the both of you can show me.”
“Don’t be a jackass,” she said, sitting up and pulling down at the t-shirt to cover her waist.
Hack gazed at Lee’s perfectly formed thighs, firm from her workout regimen. “I love you, Leeandra Mansfield.”
Lee rolled her eyes knowing where Hack had focused his attention. “Do you say that to every half naked girl you see?”
“No, just to the ones I sleep with.”
“Touché, silly goose,” said Lee. “Okay then, if you really love me, how about getting me some underwear?”
“What’d you do with the ones you had on?”
“I didn’t have any on. I showered and just put on a t-shirt. We were watching TV and Angie mentioned a massage so I took her up on it. They’re in the top drawer of my dresser.”
“Any particular pair?”
“Doesn’t matter. You choose. And throw me my towel.”
Hack grabbed the towel but paused before tossing it to her. “You want a bra, too?”
“Are we going out?”
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Then no bra. Just my panties.”
Hack flipped the towel to her. “I like the sound of that,” he said, walking to the bedroom with one eye on his girlfriend.
He opened the top drawer of her dresser but all he saw was an assortment of neatly folded tops. He thumbed through the clothes looking for underwear and felt something tucked between two shirts. He lifted the top shirt and saw a stack of bills held together by a small binder clip. He quickly counted. Six hundred dollars.
Out of curiosity he opened the next drawer. He found a packet of letters tied together by a bow underneath a pair of jeans. He thumbed through the stack. All were from Lawrence Pinto from the USS Harvey, variously postmarked from one year ago to last month.
“Damn,” Hack mumbled, annoyed.
“What’s taking you so long?” Lee yelled from the living room.
Hack quietly closed the drawer. “I can’t find them. You said the top drawer, right?”
“Yes, top drawer of my dresser.”
Hack put his hands on his hips and scanned the room. “Oh, I see it. I was looking in the wrong place.” He walked to the five-drawer dresser on the other side of the room and opened the top drawer. After going through the the choices, he selected a pair of white cotton panties with pink trim and red hearts printed all over it. He held it up between his thumb and index finger. “This’ll do.”
Hack walked to the living room, handed Lee her underwear, and then sat on the couch facing her.
“Thank you,” she said, extending her legs and slipping on the panties. She sat cross-legged on the floor in front of him and smirked. “Did you get a good look?”
“Not really. You were too fast.”
“You need to pay attention next time.”
“You should go slower next time.”
“I might not be naked next time.”
“Do you always walk around nude with Angie here?”
“I wasn’t walking around nude. I had a t-shirt on.”
Hack sat silent, thinking of the Pinto letters.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lee asked.
“I found a bunch of money in your drawer,” he said, ignoring the letters he discovered.
“How did you find that?”
“It was in the top drawer of your dresser or what I thought was your dresser.”
“That’s my vanity, silly goose. A vanity has a mirror.”
“I know that now,” said Hack. “You think it’s safe to have cash like that lying around?”
Lee sat up and stretched her back. “I’m careful. I need cash to pay rent and other bills. I pay Angie in cash, too.” Lee crawled to the sofa and sat next to him. “Did you come here straight from the ship?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Sort of,” Hack said.
“What do you mean, sort of?”
“I was leaving base with Decker and we got sidetracked. My new best friend, Inspector Navarro, stopped us on the street. We sat in his car and had a nice chat.”
“The local police chief?”
Hack nodded. “Yep, he picked us up when we were crossing Shit River. We didn’t have a choice. Three of his lieutenants were there to make sure we got in his car.”
“Why would he want to talk with you guys?” asked Lee.
“There’s something I haven’t told you,” said Hack. “Decker and I went
to see this guy Mr. Fortuno on Saturday. Inspector Navarro knew about it somehow.”
Lee cocked her head. “Who’s Fortuno?”
“He’s an old man who used to run the black market in town. He’s someone Decker found out about from his trike driver friend, Rusty.”
Lee took hold of Hack’s hand. “You need to be careful, sweetie. Don’t let Decker talk you into stuff like that. I can’t believe you guys are still chasing this inventory thing.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Hack reassured her. “It just bothers me that Navarro knew about the meeting. We were careful not to be followed. Rusty helped us get there and he didn’t notice anything.”
“Maybe they weren’t following you,” said Lee.
“How else would they know we visited?”
“Two ways,” Lee said. She extended her left index finger. “One, they could’ve been watching Mr. Fortuno’s house. If he’s a shady character, maybe the cops are always keeping an eye on him.”
“But we didn’t see anyone watching.”
“You wouldn’t see them. Probably watching from another house. Or maybe it was a spy. You know, some girl working at a sari sari store or a trike driver who the police pay for information. Wouldn’t take much money. A few pesos here and there can add up for someone like that.”
“What’s the other way?” Hack asked.
“Perhaps the honorable Captain Navarro is in cahoots with Mr. Fortuno. Think about it. What kind of vehicle does Navarro drive?”
“I think it was a Range Rover,” Hack said.
“See what I mean? I’m not sure what he gets paid, but that’s a nice vehicle for a public servant in this town. You don’t see police officers driving cars like that in the States.”
“I guess not,” Hack sighed. “I’m not sure what to think anymore.”
“What did Navarro want anyway?”
“He warned us not to stick our noses into things.”
“He said that?”
“In so many words.”
“Well then, you should take his advice.”
Hack ran his fingers through Lee’s hair. “I’ll try to be careful.” He paused momentarily. “There’s something else. Chief Fray had your name written on a piece paper he kept in his safe.”